Device for cleaning wells



model.)

J. P. HUDsON.

DEVICE FOR GLEANING WELLS.

No. 399,044. Patented Mar. 5, 1889.

fl. PETERS. PhMo-Uxiwgvapbcr. Washingon. D (l UNITED STATES PATENTEEicE.

JAMES HUDSON, OF CHEYENNE ELLS, COLORADO.

DEVICE FOR CLEANlNG WELLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,044, dated March 5,1889.

Application filed $eptemher 10, 1888. Serial No. 285,029. (Model) To a107mm it may concern..-

Be it known that I, JAMES F. HUDSON, of Cheyenne "Wells, in the countyof Bent and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Devices for (leaning \Vells; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable othcrs skilled in the art to which it pertains tomake and use it, reference being had to the accoi'npanying drawings,which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvementin devices for cleaning wells; andit consists in the combination of a flat angular-shaped bottom piece, anumber of folding sides, and a corresponding number of folding corners,which unite the ends of the folding sides together, with a vmechanismfor closing or raising the angular sides and their corners into avertical position, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide a folding device which is to beplaced in the bottom of wells for the purpose of catching all matterwhich may be dropped into the well, and which, when drawn upward, willallow the water to freely escape, but will retain all that has droppedinto the well, thus enabling a well to be kept perfectly clean.

Figure .l is a plan view of a well-cleaner embodying my invention, theparts being shown in an open position. Fig. 2 is a simi lar view showingthe parts in a raised or closed position. Fig. 3 a vertical section ofthe same.

A represents the bottom piece, which is preferably made from zinc,galvanized sheet'iron, or any material which will not rust. llinged orloosely attached in any suitable manner to the four edges of this bottompiece, A, are the folding sides 13, which are capable of being raisedinto a vertical position, and which are united at their ends by theangular cornerpieces 0, which are hinged both to the ends of the sidepieces, 13, and hinged together at their inner ends. \Vhen all of thesepieces A B C are opened outward to their full extent, they form a circleof any suitable width, and are intended to rest upon the bottom of thewell, so as to catch any substance which may drop into the well fromabove.

I11 order to close or raise the sides B and the corner-pieces G into avertical position when the device is being either lowered into or raisedfrom the well, there loosely attached to the center of the bottom A ametallic rod, D, which has its upper end bent or formed into a ring, F,and placed upon this rod D is avertioal sliding sleeve, G, which has aplate or disk, H, secured to its lower end. Connected to this plate ordisk are a number of rings, 1, and hooked into these rings I are therods J, which are connected at their lower or outer ends to the rings L,which are fastened to hooks secured to the inner sides of the sides 15.To the upper end of the sleeve is attached a loop, 0, to which anelevating cord or wire may be attached. lVhen the sleeve is raised intoits highest position, its upper edge strikes against the under side ofthe loop or ring which is formed upon the upper end of the rod D, andthus all weight or strain in raising the apparatus from or lowering itinto the well is brought to bear upon the rod 1), which is attached atits lower end to the bottom A. The sleeve, the loop, and the rodconnected to the sleeve then have just sufficient strain brought to bearupon them to keep the sides and corner-pieces in a raised or verticalposition.

This cleaner is intended to be lowered into a well. As soon as itreaches the bottom of the well, the sides and end pieces open out into ahorizontal position, and thus cover the whole or nearly the whole bottomof the well. All substances which are dropped or fall into the well arecaughtby this bottom when it is draun upward. The bottom may beperforated, so as to let the water freely escape; or the water willescape between the joints of the side and end pieces, leaving all of thearticles orsubstances dropped in the well upon the top of the cleaner asit is drawn upward. As the cleaner can be drawn up at any time by meansof the cord, wire, or chain attached to the loop connected to thesleeve, the well can be kept perfectly clean and pure at all times.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim 1..In a wellcleaner, thecombination of a central bottom piece with the folding sides, which areloosely connected thereto, rods connected thereto, the folding sidepieces connected to the edges of the pieces A, the foldingcorner-pieces, which unite the ends of the sides together, the slidingsleeve placed upon the elevating-rod, and the rods which connect thefolding sides to the lower end of the sleeve, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presenceo'f two witnesses.

JAMES F. HUDSON.

Vitnesses:

DON. E. SEARS, WM. 0. FLATT.

